Box fastener



Dec, 19, 1922, uwwm J. EHMANN. BOX FASTENER.

FILED NOV-21.1921- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922.,

UNITED STATES moon EHMANN, or Aamneron, NEW JERSEY.

Boxras'rnnnn.

Application filed November 21, 1921. Serial No. 516,578. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB EHHANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Arlington, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Fasteners;

and I do hgi ebyrleclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of'the,

invention, such as will enable 'others'skilled 1n the art-to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to characters of reference marked .thereon, which form a part of this specification. I v

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in box-fasteners; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel and, simply constructed device to be used in lieu of the sheet-metal straps or bands which are used as a reinforcement about the'nailed or screwed covers or lids of boxes, the device serving the double purposes of reinforcing the secured cover or lid to the body of the box, and as a' safety-seal to prevent tampering with thecontents of the box, and if tampered therewith, serving as an indicatin meanswhich will show that I the cover or li of the box was priedopen.

The present invention has forits principal objects to provide a novel and simply constructed safety-seal for use with the cover or lid and the body of a box or case, with a view of providing a device which is. readily and securely secured in its operative position, and which, when properly secured in its attached relation to the cover or lid and the body of the box, serves to prevent the withdrawal of the securing nails or screws therefrom, unless severed by means of the use of a cold chisel or similar tool, which when done by a person other than the receiver of the box or case,

will immediatelv'showthat the contents of the box or case have been tampered with.

The invention has for its further object to provide a cover or lid-fastening means in which the parts have been reduced to a minimum, the device itself being of arcinforced construction, and being secured in place by an arrangement of nails or screws, disposed angularly, as at right angles, to one another, whereby a positive and strongsecuring means in the form of a box-fastener is provided. i Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will'be clearly understood. from the follow- 7 vention.

"embodied in the clauses of the claim which i the principles of the ing detailed description of the present in- With the various objects of the present lnvention in view, thesaid invention consists, primarily, in the novel box-fastener hereinafter more fully set forth; and the said invention consists, furthermore in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following description, and then finally are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:,

Figure 1 is a perspective view" of 'a box fastener illustrating-an embodiment of the principles of-the present invention, said view showing in connection therewith fragmentary portions of the cover or lid andbodyof a box or case; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional representation of the same, sho ing an arrangement of nails for securin the fastener in position, before the nails 'are sealed in place against removal; and Figure 3 is a similar section, taken on line 33 insaid Figure 1, showing the sealedarrangement .of the nails. c

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional repref sentation.of the device, said section being taken on line44 in said Figure 3; an Figure 5 is a face view of one of the inner portions of the box-fastener.

Figure 6 is a sectional representation,

taken on line 6-6 in said Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows shown on said line; and Figure 7 is a blank,.shbwing its conformation, before being bent-into shape to provide the box-fastener. A

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said figures of theioo.

drawings, the reference-character '1 indicates a fragmentary portion ofthe body of a'box or case, and 2 1s a fragmentary portion of the cover or lid of the said box or case, which is secured upon the said body by means of the usual nails, screws, or the like, this means of securing these members in. their assembled relation, however, not

being shown in the accom anying drawings. The auxiliary fastening evice, embodylng present invention, and

{which is adapted to e used with the said tail 7, the said tail being of less width than the width of the, said body, and being provided with suitably disposed dished portions or depressions, as 8 and 9, which are respectively provided with holes or. perforations 10 and 11. As shown in said Figure 7, the said body-portion 3 is also provided with slits, as 12 and 13, the portions contiguous to said slit 12, in the finished device, being forced outwardly from the face of said body portion 3, to provide a series of closing wings, as 14, and the portions contiguous to the slits 13 in the finished device. being likewise forced outwardly from the face of said body-portion 3, to provide another series of closing wings, as 15.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the longitudinally extending marginal edgeportions of the said body-portion 3 are bent inwardly from the inner face of said bodyportion, so as to provide a pair of rightangled marginal flanges 16 and 17. The

body-portion .3 is next bent at. right-angles,

as at 18, so as to provide a pair of rightangled members 19 and 20. The previously mentioned tongue 4 is also bent at a right angle to the inner face of the member 20, as at 21, the lower part of said member 20 being formed, directly above the said rightangled tongue, with outwardly forced rein forcing portions, as 22, which are used as an anvil for driving said tongue 4 into the wood of the box-body, as'will be evident from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 of.

the drawings, and for the the purposes hereinafter more fully set forth. As will be seen from said figures of the drawings, the previously mentioned, tail 7 is also bent inwardly, as at 23, and formed so as to pro vide a pair of right-angled members 24 and 25, which are forced against the inner faces ,of the right-angled members 20 and 19, and

are disposed between the right-angled flanges 16 and 17, substantially as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

When thus arranged, the perforation 11 and the cross-slits 13 being inalinement, and the perforations 6 and 10 and the said cross-slits 12 being also in alinement, it will be evident, that the nail-receiving portion between the wings 14 will be in alinement with the alined holes .or perforations 10 and 6, and that the nail-receiving portion between the wings 15 will be located directly or lid 2 has been nailed down or otherwise secured upon the body 1 of the box or case, is placed upon the edge of the cover or lid, with the members 20 and 24 upon the upper face of the cover or lid, and the members 19 and 25 against the vertical side of the cover or lid, and with the'pointed tongue .4 driven into the side of the body of the box or case. A nail 26 is then inserted between the outwardly extending wings 14 and through the hole or perforation 10, the nail being driven through the cover or lid 2 and into thebody 1 of the box or case, the

pointed end-portion of the nail passing -directly into and through the hole or erforation 6 of the wing 4, as shown. Similarly, a nail 27 is inserted between the outwardly extending wings 15, and through the hole or perforation 11, the nail passing directly into the vertical side of the said cover or lid 2. When the respective'nails are finally driven firmly home, by the use of .a nail punch 28, as indicated in dotted outline in said Figure 2, by means of a hammer 29, or other tool, the outwardly extending wings 14 and 15 are then firmly closed'down over'and upon the heads of the respective nails, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawmgs.

When it is desired to get at the contents of the boxorcase, to remove the box-fastener, a sharp tool 30, as a cold chisel, is inserted beneath the bent or doubled under edge 23,

until the cutting edge of the tool strikes the shank or the nail 26, through which it is driven, so that the head-portion of the nail is severed from the main shank of the nail. By means of the said tool the doubled under members 20 and 24 can be forced away from the outer face or top of the lid or cover 2, the doubled under members 19 and 25 of the box-fastener being also pried away from the vertical edge-surface of the lid or cover and the side of the box-body 1, and whereby of the withdrawal of said tongues from the box-body, so that the box-fasteners may be entirely removed, if desired.

From the foregoing description and from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, it will readily be seen that I have iaassso devised a simply constructed and astrong box-fastener whichis easily and quickly secured in its operative position, is quickly detachable therefrom, and which acts as a safety-seal against any surreptitious opening of the box, any severed relation of the'fasteners from the box-cover, immediately indicating to the receiver, that the contents of the box or case have been tampered with.

Of course I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth-in the-foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the severa], devices and parts as described in the said specification,'nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim v 1. A safety-seal fastener for boxes comprising a pair of angularly disposed members, each member ,being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles to each other, and a perforated tongue extending angularly from one of said members, through which the'shank of one of the nails is adapted to be driven. i

2. A safety-seal fastener for boxes comprising a pair of angularly disposed members, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles .to each other, and wings located at the marginal boundaries of the said nail-receiving openings, said wings extending outwardly from said members, and said wings being adapted to be closed down, so as to form closures over the heads of the inserted nails. 3. A safety-seal fastener for boxes comprising a pair of angularly disposed members, each member being provided w1th a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles to each other, wings extending outwardly from said members adjacent to said nail-receiving openings, said wings being adapted to be closed down, so as to form closures over the heads ofthe inserted nails, and a perforated tongue extending angularly from bers, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles .to e'ach other, and said members being provided with rearwardly extending flanges 5. A safety-seal fastener for boxes comprising a pair of angularlydisposed members, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles to each other, and said members being provided with rearwardly extending flanges adapted to provide one of said members with a tool-receiving space for insertion of a nail-severing tool, and a perforated tongue extending angularly from one of said members, through which the shank of one of the nails is adapted to be driven.

6. A safety-seal fastener for boxes comprising a pair ofangularly disposed members, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the reception and disposition of a pair of nails at right angles to each other, and said. members being provided with rearwardly extending flanges adapted to provide one of said members with a tool-receiving space for insertion of a, nail-severing tool, and wings extending outwardly from' said members adjacent to said nail-receiving openings, said wings being adapted to be closed down so as to form closures over the heads-of the inserted nails.

7. A safety-seal fastener for boxes omprising a pair of angularly disposed members, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening for the rece tion and disposition of a pair of nails at rig ii to each other, and said members being. pro-- videdwith rearwardly extending flanges.

adapted to provide one of said members with a tool-receiving space for insertion of a nail-severing tool, wings extending out-- wardly from said members adjacent to said nail-receiving openings, said wings being adapted to be closed down so as to form closures over the heads of the inserted nails, and a perforated tongue extending angularly from one of said members, through which the shank of one of the nails is adapted to be driven. I

8. A safety-seal fastener for boxes consisting of a main body havin bers bent at right angles to eac other, each member'being provided with a nail-receiving opening surrounded by outwardl extending wings, adapted to be closed own, so as to form closures over the heads of the inserted nails, and a tail extending from the end of one of said body-members, said tail being doubled under the said rightan led body-members and being provided wit nail-receiving perforations in registration with the nail receiving openings of said body-members.

/ 9.v A safety-seal fastener for boxes contwo memsisting of a main body having two members bent at 'r1ght angles to each other, each memher being pIOVldGd with a nail-receiving opening surroundedv by outwardly extending wings, adapted to be closed down, so as to form closures over' the heads of the inserted nails, a tail extending from the .end of one'of said body-members, said tail being doubled under the saidri ht-angled bodymembers and being provi ed with nail-receiving perforations in registration wth the sisting of a main body having two members bent at right angles to each other, each.

. member being provided with a nail-reciving opening surrounded by outwardly extending wings, adapted to be closed down, so as to form closures over the heads of the inserted nails,- said body-members being formed with rearwardly extending marginal flanges and a tail extending from the.

end of one 0 said body-members, said tail being doubled under the said right-angled body-member and being dispose ,between the said marginal flan es of said body-mem bers, said tall being 'urther provided with nail-receii'ring perforations in registration with the nail receiving openings of said body-members. Y

11. A. safety-seal fastener for boxes consisting of a main body having two members bent at right angles to each other, each member being provided with a nail-receiving opening surrounded by outwardly extending wings, adapted to be closed down, so asto form closures over the heads of the inserted nails, said body-members being.

formed with rearwardly extending marginalflanges, a tail extending from. the end of one of said body-members, said tail be ing doubled under the said right-angled body-member and being disposed between the said mar inal flanges of said body-members, said tall being further provided with nail-receiving perforations in registration.

with the nail-receiving openings .of said body-members and a perforated and pointed tongue extending at a right angle from the end of the other body-member, through which the shank of one of the nails is adapted to be driven. v

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this. 17th day of November, 1921.

. JACOB EHMANN.

Witnesses: 4 GEORGE D. RICHARDS,

EVA E. DEsoH. 

